COMPLETE[PLAY]Tragedy of Tragedies: Tom Thumb by Fielding - thw

[ToddHW]

The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great by Henry Fielding (1707 - 1754).

Tom Thumb, small of stature, great of heart. This play was written as a parody of the tragic heroic biography of a great man, filled with biting satire as to people and events of the time. Note as warned by the title that this is not a happy-ending fairy tale. (Follow the etext link to see how the script is full of fictitious supposedly real researchy footnotes by "H. Scriblerus Secundus" providing fake references to the events and allusions of the play.) Supposedly Jane Austen put on a family performance of this play.
( ToddHW)

• This project is complete. All audio files can be found on our catalog page: https://librivox.org/the-life-and-death-of-tom-thumb-the-great-by-henry-fielding/
  
  I'm running plays by Racine at the moment, classical style tragedies full of heroic figures and pathos. Here is more of the same, pasted over with seemingly childish characters, as a cover for biting satire a la Jonathan Swift. A chance to spout heroic lines filled with nonsense....
  
  Gender neutral of course.
  
  Kitty will be Queen, drunkenly ensuring we don't read any of the (interesting and funny) fake footnotes that the script - published simultaneously with the play performances - is littered with.
  
  
  
  
  1. Is there a deadline?
     We ask that you submit your recorded sections within 1-2 months of placing your claim. Please note that to be fair to the readers who have completed their sections in a timely way, if you haven't submitted your recording(s) after two months, your sections will automatically be re-opened for other readers to claim, unless you post in this thread to request an extension. Extensions will be granted at the discretion of the Book Coordinator. If you cannot do your section, for whatever reason, just let me know and it'll go back to the pool. There's no shame in this; we're all volunteers and things happen. Please do not sign up for more sections than you can complete within the two month deadline.
  2. How to claim a part, and "how it all works" here
     To find a section to record, simply look at point 5. below at the sections. All the ones without names beside them are "up for grabs." Click "Post reply" at the top left of the screen and tell us which section you would like to read (include the section number from the left-most column in the reader list, please). Read points 6. to 8. below for what to do before, during and after your recording.
  3. New to recording?
     Please read our Newbie Guide to Recording!
  4. Where do I find the text? Source text (please only read from this text!): https://archive.org/details/workshenryfield07unkngoog/page/n50/mode/2up
  5. Please claim roles (the numbers in the first column below)! Please note: All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. When you submit your recording, you will be placing your recording in the public domain as well.
     
     If this is your first recording, please let me know under which name or pseudonym you'd like to appear in the LibriVox catalogue. We can also link to a personal website/blog.
     
     
     
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     Magic Window:

     
     
     BC Admin
     ===========================================
     This paragraph is temporary and will be replaced by the MC with the list of sections and reader (Magic Window) once this project is in the admin system.
     
     • Project Code: hvKmndXd
     • Link to author on Wikipedia (if available): (Henry Fielding) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fielding
     • Link to title on Wikipedia (if available): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Tragedies
     • Number of sections (files) this project will have: 38
     • Does the project have an introduction or preface [y/n]: No
     • Original publication date (if known): 1731
       ============================================
       
       Genres for the project: Plays/Comedy/Satire; Plays/Drama/Tragedy
       
       Keywords that describe the book: satire, small people
       
       ============================================
     • BEFORE recording: Please check the Recording Notes: viewtopic.php?p=6430#p6430
       
       Set your recording software to:
       Channels: 1 (Mono)
       Bit Rate: 128 kbps
       Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
       
       Submit one file per act.
     • Make sure you add this to the beginning of your recording:
       [Role], read by [your name].
       
       If you are reading stage directions, please include for each file:At the beginning: Act [#] of The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great by Henry Fielding. This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Librivox dot org.
       
       At the end: End of Act [#].
       
       Please remember to check this thread frequently for updates!
     • AFTER recording
       Save files as 128 kbps MP3
       tomthumb_[role]_[#]_128kb.mp3 (all lower-case) where ## is the act number.
       
       
       
       Transfer of files (completed recordings) Please always post in this forum thread when you've sent a file. Also, post the length of the recording (file duration: mm:ss) together with the link.
       • Upload your file with the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
         
         (If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
       • You'll need to select the MC, which for this project is: toddhw
       • When your upload is complete, you will receive a link - please post it in this thread.
       • If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.
       
       Any questions?
       Please post below

[alanmapstone]

In early as usual, I would like to read Lord Grizzle.

This text is almost more footnotes than script and the footnotes are not always well delineated so I think some readers may read the footnotes by mistake thinking they part of the role.

I think you may be doing this just so you can play King Arthur

[ToddHW]

I think you may be doing this just so you can play King Arthur

Drat. My secret plan has been revealed. Though of course anyone else that wanted to play King Arthur could have offered the play themselves over the last ~15 years....

Thanks, Todd

[mightyfelix]

Oh, this is hilarious! I don't know yet in what capacity I'll be participating, but rest assured, I will be! For now, I will commence lurking.

[MichaelMaggs]

Oh, this is hilarious! I don't know yet in what capacity I'll be participating, but rest assured, I will be! For now, I will commence lurking.

Think you should do the Queen. Then (on p55) you get the immortal line:

Queen [aside]: " __________________________*. Oh! ye gods! "

Which is footnoted:

* A tragical exclamation.

[ToddHW]

Oh, this is hilarious! I don't know yet in what capacity I'll be participating, but rest assured, I will be! For now, I will commence lurking.

Think you should do the Queen. Then (on p55) you get the immortal line:

Queen [aside]: " __________________________*. Oh! ye gods! "

Which is footnoted:

* A tragical exclamation.

And which would be read "BLANK. Oh! ye gods."

I am taking a Jane Austen course and it was mentioned that she put on a family performance of this (as well as Wonder by Susannah Centlivre which I also started). Then I saw Excalibur - a 1981 movie covering the entire Arthurian legend - last weekend and here I get to actually be King Arthur! How could I resist?

Lurk away, Oh Mighty One. We know how to find you.

Thanks, Todd

[Kitty]

ok I just read the irresistible description of the queen in the MW. I guess I would fit the profile, only I don't drink. But I can convincingly play drunk

I also don't love Tom Thumb...

but I'm entirely faultless, that part fits

I can also assure nobody is reading footnotes, so yes, sign me up as DPL

Sonia

[ToddHW]

Wait a minute. You're just doing this so that once again, you get to be "a little too much a virago towards her husband" - that being me. Again.

Thanks, Todd

[jennlea]

May I sign up for the Princess?

Glancing through quickly, I did not see her in Act 1 but is in Act 2.

[ToddHW]

May I sign up for the Princess?

Glancing through quickly, I did not see her in Act 1 but is in Act 2.

Thank you.

Yeah, Act 2, not 1. Sorry.

Thanks, Todd

[OooThatsNifty]

If you'll have me / didn't already have someone else in mind, I'd love to claim the Ghost of Gaffer Thumb! Let me know

[Kitty]

You're just doing this so that once again, you get to be "a little too much a virago towards her husband" - that being me.

would you believe me that this had no impact on my choice *angel smilie*

Sonia

[ToddHW]

No! No! Not the *angel smilie*!

Thanks?, Todd

[ToddHW]

If you'll have me / didn't already have someone else in mind, I'd love to claim the Ghost of Gaffer Thumb! Let me know

Thank you.

Todd

[jennlea]

Thank you.

Yeah, Act 2, not 1. Sorry.

Thanks, Todd

No worries. I was just being a picky princess about it